Alleged crack dealer allowed to stay in city public housing

PORTSMOUTH — Months after she was arrested for allegedly selling crack cocaine in and around a public housing complex, accused drug dealer Susan Becker continues to live among her elderly and disabled neighbors at Feaster Apartments.

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By Charles McMahon

seacoastonline.com

By Charles McMahon

Posted Aug. 31, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Charles McMahon
Posted Aug. 31, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

PORTSMOUTH — Months after she was arrested for allegedly selling crack cocaine in and around a public housing complex, accused drug dealer Susan Becker continues to live among her elderly and disabled neighbors at Feaster Apartments.

Becker, 42, who was arrested in March following an undercover investigation into the illicit sale of drugs in and around Portsmouth Housing Authority properties, faces two felony counts of sale of a controlled drug. According to court documents, Becker sold crack cocaine to an undercover police officer on two separate occasions in August 2012.

Craig Welch, executive director at the Portsmouth Housing Authority, confirmed this week that despite being served with an eviction notice, Becker is still living in a PHA apartment.

Welch said the reason Becker is still able to live in on PHA property is because she has appealed her eviction. A judge has yet to rule on Becker's appeal, said Welch.

“While that process is going on, it is illegal for the PHA to just lock her door and throw her out,” he said. “The US Constitution gives people a right to due process.”

While the PHA has a "zero-tolerance" policy on "criminal activity, violence, the illegal use, possession or distribution of drugs, drug activity or any kind and alcohol abuse," Welch said the PHA must follow due process when someone is accused of violating the law.

Welch maintained that the PHA is still diligent in upholding the standards of public housing. He said it is, however, up to the courts to decide when someone should be evicted.

"The PHA has made it our policy to automatically evict tenants for drug-related criminal activity, and we are following through with that commitment," he said. "When we evict a tenant, it becomes a civil action in the court system and tenant is entitled to due process in the courts, but the eviction case may be heard in the courts before the criminal case."

Becker is alleged to have sold five "baggies" of drugs to a confidential informant on Aug. 9. Three of those "baggies" tested positive for the presence of crack cocaine, according to a police affidavit.

On Aug. 14, Becker allegedly sold seven "baggies" of drugs to the same confidential informant.

Further testing of the drugs at the N.H. State Police crime lab showed five of the seven "baggies" tested positive for the presence of crack cocaine.

Her charges remain in the local criminal court pending a competency evaluation, according to the court documents.

Becker remains out on bail, free to live at her public housing apartment, while another resident arrested on similar charges a few months after Becker is scheduled to face an eviction hearing next week.

Caroline Paradis, who was arrested during a drug bust in the Gosling Meadows neighborhood in May, is expected to be taken from the Valley Street jail in Manchester to the Portsmouth Circuit Court on Tuesday for an eviction hearing. Paradis, who was living at 32 Gosling Road at the time of the raid, is charged with two felony counts alleging sales of heroin.

According to a recent court filing, Paradis is objecting to the eviction because she has yet to be convicted of a crime.

"I am currently incarcerated. Have not been convicted of anything yet, therefore no reason for eviction yet. Do not owe any rent," according to a statement submitted to the court.

In circumstances such as Paradis' case, Welch said a judge is hearing the facts and making a decision on what is essentially a landlord-tenant matter, not a criminal matter that may have a higher burden of proof.

"When we determine that based upon the evidence that we have that these tenants have engaged in drug-related criminal activity, we give them an eviction notice," he said. "If they want their day in court, they get it. If they want to appeal, they have that right as well."

For tenants such as Paradis who are incarcerated, Welch said their apartments remain vacant, prohibiting people who may have been waiting for years to move up on the waiting list or move in.

"You can be assured that the Portsmouth Housing Authority is aggressively pursuing evictions through the proper legal channels of all people who commit crimes, including drug-related crimes, on or near our neighborhoods," Welch said.

He said the housing authority also continues to work with local police to ensure the PHA is free of criminal activity.

"With over 360 households on our waiting list, there is no room in Portsmouth Housing for those who are not abiding by the law," he said.